5 things to know about ear infections - Burlington Times News

Pain in the ear and diminished hearing is a recipe for discomfort. Although they are easily treated, it’s never fun to have an ear infection. Most people are familiar with ear infections, but why do they happen?

Benjamin Pellegrin, a nurse practitioner with the NHRMC ExpressCare at 510 Carolina Bay Drive in Wilmington, is here to share  some valuable information about ear infections.

1. Some people might be more prone to ear infections than others

When fluid in the ear becomes trapped, bacteria and viruses can grow. This can cause inflammation and results in an ear infection. A large factor in developing an ear infection is colds caused by viruses. This is especially prevalent in children, but not exclusively. “Genetics can play a part with ear infections,” said Pellegrin. “Certain people with genetic disorders like cleft palate or Down syndrome can have a problem with the anatomy of the eustachian tubes and can be prone to more ear infections.”

2. Ear infections can case more than just ear pain

Perhaps the most notable symptom of ear infections is the pain. Besides pain, there are also other symptoms to pay attention to, some more severe than others. For example, ear infections can also cause a fever. “In smaller kids,” said Pellegrin, “it can be irritability or sometimes headache or even nausea and vomiting.” Ear infections can even result in temporary and permanent hearing loss. Temporary hearing loss is typical with ear infections due to the blockage, but repeated infections can scar the eardrum, affecting hearing permanently.

3. There are different types of ear infections

Ear infections can be split into three different types depending on where the infection is located. There are outer, middle, and inner ear infections. Outer ear infections are more commonly known as swimmer’s ear. “In the summer months,” said Pellegrin, “we’ll see more outer ear infections – what we call swimmer’s ear – and that’s when fluid stays trapped in the ear canal, doesn’t drain properly, and the outer ear can become infected.” A way to determine if you have an outer ear infection is to pull on the ear, which will stretch out the inflamed or swollen part of it and cause pain. There is also ear drainage with outer ear infections. Middle ear infections are on the inside of the eardrum in the middle part of the ear. Meanwhile, inner ear infections – which can cause more severe symptoms such as vertigo or dizziness – are even farther in the ear.

4. Kids tend to get ear infections more often than adults

Kids can get ear infections more often than adults, and this is for several reasons. One is because they get sick more, especially with upper respiratory infections and colds. Another reason is that their immune system is less developed than adults’. A child’s eustachian tubes are also not as effective at draining liquid. The eustachian tube in children, according to Pellegrin, is horizontally shaped and doesn’t drain fluid as well. The fluid gets trapped more easily in there. “As we grow older that tube becomes more vertical and it drains better,” said Pellegrin. Some adults might get frequent ear infections too, which can be because of a eustachian tube dysfunction. The tube might not be equalizing pressure properly, which increases the chance of ear infections. Pellegrin says that colds and uncontrolled allergies are reasons some adults might get ear infections more than others.

5. Ear infections are easily treated

“Ear infections are often treated with antibiotics and pain medication,” said Pellegrin. Pain medicine includes Tylenol and ibuprofen. Middle ear infections are best treated with oral antibiotics like amoxicillin. Meanwhile, swimmer’s ear can be treated by eardrops. These eardrops will go directly into the ear canal and into the affected area. Pellegrin also says a patient might be prescribed a steroid with swimmer’s ear to reduce inflammation. As always, it is important to go through the full course of antibiotics when prescribed, even when symptoms go away. Sometimes, a doctor may suggest parents bring their child to an ENT to get tubes put in the ears, preventing fluid buildup in the middle ear. While ear infections are a painful ordeal, there are easy ways to get rid of them.

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